Polyantha rose plant named `Morredfar`

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of polyantha rose, primarily identified by the red color of its petals, spreading growth habit and double flowers.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of hardy,bush type rose plant of the polyantha class. The cultivar is primarilycharacterized as to novelty by its red color, spreading plant habit anddouble flowers. The cultivar is further characterized by:

An abundance of blooms, with flowers usually borne in clusters andsprays;

Little or no fragrance;

A plant of vigorous, spreading growth habit, with semi-glossy foliagewith pointed leaflets; the buds and flowers being similar in form andsize to `The Fairy` (polyantha) but differing in color, being redinstead of pink; and

A plant which grows and blooms satisfactorily both in greenhouse andoutdoors; with good repeat bloom, is good for growing in large pots andprovides excellent garden decoration as a ground cover or floweringshrub.

The present cultivar of polyantha rose was originated by me at mynursery, located at Visalia, Calif., under conditions of careful controland observation, as a result of a cross of Simon Robinson as the seedparent × Simon Robinson as the pollen parent. NOTE: Simon Robinson(miniature) is a low growing plant with single (5 petal) 11/2 inch pinkflowers. Said to be from a cross of Rosa wichuraiana × New Penny.

Subsequent to my origination of the cultivar I successfully asexuallyreproduced this new cultivar at my nursery, located as aforementioned,by budding as well as by cuttings; the reproductions have run true inall respects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS

The new and distinct rose cultivar may be further described by referenceto the accompanying two sheets of photographic illustrations.

Sheet 1 is a whole plant view of the cultivar grown as a weeping tree,showing flowers and foliage.

Sheet 2 shows in more detail an individual cluster of flowers.

Plant part coloration illustrated is as true as is reasonably possibleto attain in photographic illustrations of this type.

Referring now specifically to the new and distinct cultivar of polyantharose plant, the following is a detailed description thereof in outline;all major color plate identification being by reference to The R.H.S.Colour Chart (Royal Horticultural Society) except where common terms ofcolor definition are employed.

Type: Hardy; spreading; seedling; outdoors; ground cover; cut flowers;garden decoration; potted plant.

Class: Polyantha.

Cultivar identification.--`MORredfar`.

Commercial synonym.--`Red Fairy`.

Flowers borne: In clusters and sprays on sturdy wiry stems.

Quantity of bloom: Abundant both outside and inside greenhouse.

Bud:

Peduncle.--Medium length (1 inch); erect; medium green, near Green Group143B, sometimes tinted bronze (outdoors); nearly smooth--some very shorthairs.

Before calyx breaks.--Size-small.

Form.--Short, rounded, with several small foliaceous appendages onsurface of the bud; with foliaceous parts extending beyond the tip ofthe bud equal to less than one-half its length.

Color.--Medium green, near Green Group 143B, occasionally tinted withbronze (outdoors). As calyx breaks--Color--near Red 47A. Opening--Openswell in all weather.

Bloom:

Size when fully open.--Small, averaging about 25-30mm (or 1-11/4").

Petalage.--Double--averaging about 20 to 30 petals, arranged regularlyplus several small petaloids.

Form.--Full, informal at first, becoming rounded with petals rolledloosely outward and downward. Fully opened flowers may show stamens.

Sepals.--Permanent; spear shaped; recurved.

Behavior.--Long lasting on plant; spent petals or flowers drop off.

Flower longevity (July and August 1996)--Plant in pot--5-7 days orlonger. Cut flowers at living room temperature--4-5 days.

Petals.--Fairly thick; satiny on inside and on outside surface.

Shape.--Outside petals--broad lanceolate with rounded tip.Intermediate--broad lanceolate with nearly round tip. Inside--Lanceolatesometimes twisted.

Color.--(Newly opening flower from plant grown outdoors in August, 1995,Visalia, Calif. (photograph taken Spring 1995)). Outside petal--Outsidesurface--near Red 54B. Inside surface--near Red 53B often with whitestreak (line) down center of petal. Intermediate petal--Outside surfacesimilar to outside petal; Inside surface similar to outside petal. Innerpetal--Outside surface similar to intermediate petal. Inside surfacesimilar to intermediate petal.

General color effect.--Newly opened flowers--Medium red. Three daysopen--color is similar to fresh open flower, but may be lighter and lessbright. Flower (petal) color becomes progressively lighter as theflowers age.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--Moderately abundant, arranged regularly about the pistil.

Filaments.--Very short, varying length.

Anthers.--Well formed, yellow.

Pollen.--Some.

Pistils.--Average number, bunched, even, greenish.

Styles.--Short; pale greenish.

Ovaries.--All enclosed in calyx.

Hips.--Some, small.

Foliage:

Leaves.--Compound of five (sometimes 3 or 7) leaflets; medium small;leathery; semi-glossy.

Leaflets.--Shape: Broad lanceolate; (ovoid) apex acute; base-rounded.Color: Medium green. Rachis: Medium strength; upper side smooth;grooved; underside may have several small thorns (or claws). Stipules:Medium to long length; medium width; short length narrow points whichturn out usually at about 45° or more. Color similar to leaflets.

Habit.--Bushy; spreading; much branched with tendency to droop asfoliage and flowers mature, thus giving the plant a spreading profilesuitable for ground cover, tub or hanging basket use.

Growth.--Vigorous; internodes moderately short.

Canes.--Medium slender; sturdy.

Main stems.--Color: Medium green, near Green Group 143B.

Thorns.--Average of varying size and length, usually hooked downward,color: brown. Hairs--few or none.

Note:

(1 ) As compared with `The Fairy` the flowers of the present cultivarare red rather than pink and the plant more vigorous and more spreading.

(2) As compared with `Flower Carpet` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,282) thepresent cultivar is more vigorous, with larger foliage and of a lightergreen color. Also, `Flower Carpet` has pink flowers of larger size(21/2") size, whereas my present rose has smaller (11/4") flowers and inmore abundance.

The polyantha rose plant and its flowers as heretofore described mayvary in slight detail due to climate, soil and cultural conditions underwhich the cultivar may be grown; the present description being of thecultivar as grown at Visalia, Calif.

The following is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of rose plantof the polyantha class, of hardy, much branched, spreading habitsubstantially as illustrated and described, characterized by buds andflowers, basically red, the bud being rounded in the early stage,resembling in form `The Fairy` (polyantha), with the open flowers beingdouble and rounded with about 20 to 30 petals plus several smallpetaloids; and further characterized by a plant of compact, vigorous,spreading habit with main stems and shoots of average thorniness, thesaid plant being easy to propagate from soft wood cuttings and bybudding with an abundance of medium to small semi-glossy foliage, theflowers being usually borne in clusters or sprays of 25 to 50 or moreper stem.